March 20, 2009

 

 

Highlighting the Budget Lowlights: 

The End of Truth-in-Sentencing

The core government function of providing for public safety will be severely undermined by Governor Jim Doyle’s plan to release hundreds of arsonists, kidnappers, burglars and child abusers into local communities.

If budgets are all about priorities, then clearly the Governor’s are woefully misplaced.  In a budget proposal that jacks up spending by over $4 billion during a recession, about the only place the Governor looks to save money is on the one service the public most relies on government to provide – protecting personal safety and property.

Doyle’s budget proposal calls for the end of “Truth-in-Sentencing”, a decade-old policy designed to ensure criminals serve the entirety of their prison sentences.  Felons would see their prison sentences reduced by as much as one-third under Doyle’s plan.

To make matters worse, unaccountable bureaucrats, not judges, juries or victims, would be in charge of handing out the Governor’s “Get Out of Jail Free” cards.

While the Governor talks about the money that could be saved by allowing nonviolent offenders out of custody sooner, he refuses to acknowledge the significant number of violent criminals who would get early release under his plan.  For example:

Class C to E violent felons could earn one day off for every 5.7 days in prison

Examples of Class C to E offenses:

Homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle

Kidnapping

Arson of buildings

Robbery

Class F to I violent felons could earn one day off for every 3 days in prison

Examples of Class F to I offenses:

Physical abuse of a child

Battery

Battery or threat to witnesses

Criminal damage

Non-violent offenders of Class F to I felonies could earn one day off for every 2 days in prison

Examples of Non-violent offenses:

Possession of explosives

Burglary

Incest

Causing mental harm to a child

Manufacture, distribution or delivery of drugs

Theft